Recent advances in the preparation and application of multifunctional iron oxide and liposome-based nanosystems for multimodal diagnosis and therapy

Abstract

Nowadays, thanks to the successful discoveries in the biomedical field achieved in the last two decades, a deeper understanding about the complexity of mechanistic aspects of different pathological processes has been obtained. As a consequence, even the standard therapeutic protocols have undergone a vast redesign. In fact, the awareness about the necessity to progress towards a combined multitherapy in order to potentially increase the final healing chances has become a reality. One of the crucial elements of this novel approach is that large amounts of detailed information are highly needed and in vivo imaging techniques represent one of the most powerful tools to visualize and monitor the pathological state of the patient. To this scope, due to their unique features, nanostructured materials have emerged as attractive elements for the development of multifunctional tools for diagnosis and therapy. Hence, in this review, the most recent and relevant advances achieved by applying multifunctional nanostructures in multimodal theranosis of different diseases will be discussed. In more detail, the preparation and application of single multifunctional nano-radiotracers based on iron oxides and enabling PET/MRI dual imaging will be firstly detailed. After that, especially considering their highly promising clinical potential, the preparation and application of multifunctional liposomes useful for multimodal imaging and therapy will be reviewed. In both cases, a special focus will be set on the application of such a multifunctional nanocarriers in cancer as well as cardiovascular diseases.

Multifunctional Silica-Based Nanoparticles with Controlled Release of Organotin Metallodrug for Targeted Theranosis of Breast Cancer

“…Despite its promising potential, even the organotin-based drugs present some limitations that make mandatory the use of a proper vector for their biomedical application. In this sense, nanomaterials can act as suitable vectors for metallodrug delivery by (i) protecting the active species from degradation, (ii) enhancing their therapeutic activity [26], (iii) increasing drug bioavailability and specificity, or (iv) increasing the solubility [23,[27][28][29][30]. Because of its synthetic flexibility and biocompatibility, mesoporous silica-based nanostructured materials (MSN) represent one of the most used nanovectors in biomedicine, with special importance in metallodrug-based drug delivery systems [23,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38].…”

“…Especially in this last research area, MSN have shown a lots of benefits [46] such as a variable and controllable particle and pore size, a large surface area that can be selectively functionalized for drug delivery or high biocompatibility [47][48][49] or the possibility of combining several functionalities in a single nanosystem [50]. In this sense, one of these possible combinations is represented by the theranosis or the generation of a single nanoentity able to combine therapeutic and diagnostic features at the same time [28,[51][52][53][54][55]. In general, nanovectors may deliver their therapeutic cargo via two possible pathways: enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect [56] or receptor-mediated transcytosis [57].…”

Hybrid Decorated Core@Shell Janus Nanoparticles as a Flexible Platform for Targeted Multimodal Molecular Bioimaging of Cancer

“…To compensate the above described drawbacks, among all non-invasive clinical imaging modalities, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) results as the most attractive one because of its lack of radiation, its ability to facilitate deep tissue penetration and, mainly, to provide high spatial resolution. 22,30,31 Consequently, based on the considerations made above, we planned joining these three imaging modalities -CT, MRI and OI-thus developing a finely designed complementary molecular imaging agent with high spatial resolution, high sensitivity, deep tissue penetration and easy operational features (e.g. no radioactive nuclei application such as in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging).…”

“…[16][17][18][19] Due to its intrinsic physic characteristics, each individual imaging modality can provide only limited information in terms of spatial and temporal resolution, sensitivity and penetration depth, being unable promoting an accurate imaging diagnosis by itself individually. [20][21][22] In other terms, no single molecular imaging technique is able to provide a 'perfect' diagnosis. Consequently, the multimodal molecular imaging concept (combination of different imaging techniques) has rapidly become the reference strategy to bypass the intrinsic limitations of each individual imaging modality while maximizing its advantages.…”

Molecular Imaging with 68Ga Radio-Nanomaterials: Shedding Light on Nanoparticles

“…Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have been broadly used as imaging probes [82]. Their sizedependent MRI properties together with their superparamagnetic behavior, biocompatibility and chemical stability place them as a particularly important NP type for biomedical applications [83].…”